Nick Kyrgios opens up on Andy Murray help after self-harm and night on psychiatric ward

Nick Kyrgios has offered a candid insight into his mental health struggles, which left him at the 'lowest' point in his career. The one-time Wimbledon finalist is rarely afraid to speak about his personal battles in a bid to raise awareness and help others. At one stage, he was drinking and self-harming to the extent that he needed to wear a compression sleeve to hide the scars on his arm.

Andy Murray was among those to spot the signs, with the Scot noticing marks on Kyrgios' forearm during a practice session. He responded by telling his rival that he would always be there for a chat if he needed to speak about anything. The gesture meant a lot to Kyrgios, who made it clear that he appreciated the kind words.

Reflecting on what happened, Kyrgios told The Guardian: "He [Murray] was one of the first to notice and tell me, if I needed any help, I could always talk to him."

Kyrgios hit his lowest point in 2019, with his personal problems coming to a head during Wimbledon. He faced Rafael Nadal in the second round, where he lost in four sets, and sparked controversy by trying to hit the Spaniard with a ball.

However, nobody knew that Kyrgios was in turmoil just hours before stepping into the court. While most players would have spent the previous night doing their best to prepare for the match, the Aussie was receiving care in a psychiatric ward.

"I had to go and play Nadal the next day," he recalled. "I didn't really have a choice. In 2019, people assumed that I had an incredible year. I was top 20 in the world but I was at my lowest.

"When I finally opened up, that's when people started realising that, yes, I haven't always been perfect or always done things right, but I'm willing to speak about it.

"I've had hundreds of thousands of kids messaging me on Instagram and I try and go through all of them and help as much as I can."

Asked how he managed to play against Nadal in such a fragile state, Kyrgios replied: "We have to sometimes block out what we're going through and go to work. I can't just run away.

"Playing Nadal at Wimbledon and losing in a tight four-set battle? I was extremely proud. I'm just proud I made it through. I was in a dark place and it didn't get better after that moment.

"I was definitely struggling throughout the year with those thoughts and the self-harm, but I've been able to navigate that and help others."